September 15th

Today is Sarah’s birthday. I haven’t forgotten her. I never will. I don’t think I could if I wanted.

It hurts me to think about her, my poor little sister. I can still see the horror in her face when I told her the truth I had discovered. Her words stung like daggers. They still do.

“I hate you, Jaina! I hate you! It’s your fault Mother and Father are dead! They weren’t even your parents!”

Sometimes I think I deserve her scorn. Sometimes I think she was right. Would they still be alive? Would I even know them if they were?

I still don’t know where I really belong. I felt so at home in England, so at peace. Life was oh so much simpler before that faithful day. Everything seems to come back to it. I know now that it was my powers that caused the fire to jump at Sarah. I didn’t even know I had them then. I still don’t know why I do.

England, it feels so far away now; lifetimes in the past. Ireland was kind to me too, but I would not call it home. Créa, I’m sure, would willingly let me stay with the Dúileach. I can’t though, not yet. There are still too many questions I need answered. I have nothing but half a drawer of clues.

I know this much - two name s, Eire and Nel’hava. Eire, I know refers to Ireland. It’s the country’s name in the native tongue. Nel’hava, however, I still haven’t been able to find. To be honest, I don’t think I’ll find this Nel’hava in Ireland. I believe quite the reverse. I think Mother sent me there to protect me for this figure. Perhaps, if I search for Nel’hava, I will be undoing everything Mother did to protect me. Should I risk it?

It’s my only chance to find the truth. I’ll have to.

Mesfido is leaving on a journey today. He has told me he’ll have to go alone. I agreed but for just one reason. I’m going to go on a journey of my own. It’s time I returned to England. I’m going to find the truth.


Jaina Alsardor gently shut the pages of her diary, its thick bindings shook as the mounds of pages met. The ornate, crimson book contained over twenty years worth of memories. It was one of Jaina’s most precious possessions. She fastened the simple locket that held it shut, placing it back in the drawer with her prime possessions. Most of them would be coming with her on her journey. The swords her mother had given her were a must. There was bound to be danger.

The young woman rose from her chair, standing in the centre of her Dome room. It was a peaceful, quiet room. Jaina had always liked it. Was it home though? Was the Dome where she belonged? She had spent nearly a year in the mysterious training grounds. Her time spent with Kenjin and with Mesfido had been the highlight of her stay. When she wasn’t training, or when Mesfido was out doing one thing or another, she often found herself bored. She had wandered many of the Dome’s halls during her boredom. There were parts that she knew like the back of her hand, others that she had never even stepped inside of. The Dome was immeasurably large. Jaina doubted that anyone really knew its full extent, not even the Domerii.

Jaina looked in the mirror, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her right ear. It was a little mannerism she had always had. She was wearing her emerald dress, just as she always did. Créa had given it to her when she had turned twenty. It was typical Dúileach design, incorporating the fluidity and balance so akin to their craftsmen. The light green swirls looked like the branches of a young tree. Most Dúileach art and crafts was inspired by nature. As a race, the Dúileach were extremely tightly linked to it. Most of their strength was drawn from the land around them. Without it, they would simply die off.

The dress was another of Jaina’s favourite items, though it wasn’t to be taken with her. She would stand out too much in England wearing something so tightly fitting. The fashion there was mainly large, almost balloon like dresses. Jaina had never been very fond of it. She wouldn’t demean herself by wearing anything so ridiculous. She would however have to wear something a bit more conservative than her emerald attire. She walked over to the large red oak cupboard that stood in the corner of her room and gently pulled it open. Inside were a few simple but practical outfits. She normally wore them while travelling. They had been left unused for quite some time now.

After carefully choosing her garments Jaina pulled off her dress, her auburn hair rising into the air as the gown came over her head. She stepped into a pair of baggy, light brown trousers. They tightened just above her ankles, leaving the bottom of her shins uncovered. Next she wrapped a white blouse around her leather vested torso, sticking one arm in at a time and then fastening up the buttons. Lastly, she pulled on a pair of dingy brown stocks, a dark leather boot going atop each of them. She didn’t look English but that didn’t matter. Her accent was more Irish anyway. The upper-class Englishmen cared very little about how the Irish savages dressed. At least she wouldn’t attract the same attention that her beautiful dress would draw.

Jaina was all but ready to leave. She grabbed a leather rucksack, tossing her arm through one of the shoulder straps. She grabbed a few important items and threw them into the open bag; her diary, her touchstone, food, a canteen of water and a change of clothes. She closed over the cupboard door, pulling a leather belt around her waist as she did so. She hung her twin blades from it.

She was ready.

Jaina turned to the room’s simple wooden door, quickly opening it and stepping through.

Mesfido was waiting for her in the Departure Room. The gigantic hall was filled with thousands upon thousands of doors. Each one had their own uniqueness. The fallen angel looked pensive. He was leaning against the frame of a bright green door. Jaina knew he didn’t like her going anywhere alone. It wasn’t because he was possessive but rather because he was protective, too protective perhaps. For a second, Jaina tried to imagine what would happen to him if something really did happen to her. During their training under Kenjin, the Encorna, she had been on the verge of death. It was only because of him that she had survived. This journey she was about to undertake was the first time Mesfido had let her put herself under any risk. When she had first suggested it to him he had said he would go with her himself. Unfortunately, due to a sudden change in circumstances, he was now unable to. An important matter had come up. It had taken Jaina a long time to convince him that she would be alright on her own.

The Master of the Seven Elements looked up from the ground. He had nearly bore a hole into it with his worried stare. He smiled when he saw Jaina, only a slight smile, not the usual pure happy grin he nearly always greeted her with. She smiled back, skipping a little as she walked over to him. She didn’t want to leave him; she hated putting him through any pain. She had to though. Her search for her past had taken a backseat for too long. She needed to find the truth before she could move forward with her future.

“Hey, big guy.” Jaina smiled ear to ear, jumping up and wrapping her arms around Mesfido’s huge neck. She planted a kiss on his cheek with her rosy lips. She knew how he felt but she couldn’t contain her own joy at finally getting out of the Dome. She hadn’t realized before just how much she longed for the real world.

Mesfido placed his hands around her waist, lifting her into the air then setting her back down. His eyes flickered over her, taking in her new appearance. “What’s with the trousers? I always took you for more of a dress type.”

Jaina gave him a dig in the ribs, causing him to laugh. She couldn’t even make him flinch. All she succeeded in doing was sending a jolt of pain down her own arm. She had forgotten just how incredibly fit he was. She had never had to go against him in battle, nor had she seen him at his strongest. She never viewed him as a warrior, just as a friend and a beloved companion. He had always been so gentle with her; she still found it hard to believe that he was in fact a fighter.

“I’ll have you know that the English have horrible taste in dresses!” She spoke with feigned indignation, rubbing her sore arm as her words formed themselves. “You wouldn’t be able to look at me without laughing if you saw me in one of their tents.”

Mesfido laughed again, finishing it with a sigh. They both knew it was time to part. Now that it had come to it, neither of them wanted to. Jaina may have been giddy with anticipation of her fast approaching trip but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was abandoning her guardian angel.

“Jaina, you know I don’t like the idea of you going alone,” Mesfido looked away from her, he seemed almost ashamed. “I’ve organised for someone to accompany you. It’s not because I don’t think you can protect yourself. It’s because I would worry too much if you were alone.”

“You know I wanted to go it myself!” This time Jaina’s annoyance wasn’t faked. She had been looking forward to being free. Sometimes she thought that her love for Mesfido was taming her. She used to be so much wilder.

“I know, I know,” He still couldn’t meet her eyes. She saw something catch his eye. “He’s here. The choice is yours. I would feel much more at peace if you were to accept this offer. It’s all I can do to help.”

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~Fabulous Siggy by Insaney~